Will Google still exist in 2126? The company is confident it will do so as it issues a 100-year bond
Google has reportedly issued a bond to finance its effort for more AI infrastructure that will not mature until the year 2126. But will the company survive that long?
Google will celebrate its 28th anniversary this year, having been founded in 1998. And it seems the company is confident it will be around for a long time. According to reports, Google’s parent company Alphabet has issued 100-year bonds which will not mature until the year 2126.
According to Bloomberg, Alphabet is raising $20 billion in multiple currencies including the US dollar and Swiss franc. Regulatory filings show Alphabet is selling the bonds in seven tranches – including 100-year bonds.
Why is Google issuing 100-year bonds?
These bonds are part of Alphabet’s effort to fund more AI infrastructure, in which the company plans to invest a total of $185 billion. Alphabet’s choice to borrow over such a long time frame has been described as a significant measure of confidence in both the business and the technology it is investing in.
Google and other tech giants like Microsoft and Meta believe that AI is potentially a once-in-a-generation breakthrough that will fundamentally reshape society and provide wealth to those who control it. As such, it seems the company is confident that it can not only survive but also thrive into the next century.
Other technology leaders have committed to similar investments. Google, Meta, Amazon and others have outlined plans to spend about $660 billion this year, a 60 percent increase from last year. However, this huge expenditure has increased the fear of AI bubble.
Is a 100-Year Bond Realistic?
The report suggests that investors are keen to acquire Google’s new bonds, with orders worth an estimated $100 billion. But keep in mind that this figure is for the entire fund raise, and not for the 100-year bond specifically.
Google’s current financial position is strong, with the company reporting a record $400 billion revenue for 2025. Alphabet reported cash reserves of $127 billion. Google’s parent company had raised $17.5 billion in November last year.
Have other companies issued 100-year bonds?
This puts Google in the elite group of institutions that have borrowed money for a century. Three other institutions have issued similar bonds – the University of Oxford, the Wellcome Trust and French energy firm EDF – have previously issued sterling-denominated century bonds. The University of Oxford waited 800 years before doing so, while the Wellcome Trust’s 100-year bond in 2018 came more than 80 years after its creation.
In 1993, Disney issued “Sleeping Beauty” century dollar bonds. Disney was founded in 1923.
Google is different. In existence for just over 27 years. And even in the tech landscape, most companies have avoided such long-term bonds since the dotcom crash in the 90s. IBM and Motorola issued 100-year bonds before the dotcom bubble collapsed.
